The Just Transition Commission has published its third annual report, highlighting some of the work being carried out by the University's Just Transition Lab in order to deliver Scotland's climate transition in the fairest way.
The Conditions for Success: Annual Report 2024 is an assessment of Scotland's progress towards achieving a just transition to a low carbon economy over the past 12 months, with recommendations to government for short and long-term actions.
While it makes it clear there is much work to be done in a range of key areas including Conditions for Success, the longer term strategic conditions required for a just transition, and Game Changers, critical policy steps that could be meaningfully progressed over the next 18 months; the report also provides an overview of the Commissions activities and engagement throughout 2024.
This includes reference to the Commission’s visit to Aberdeen in October where members of the Just Transition Lab presented their research on regional developments and hosted workshops with energy workers and the industry at the University’s Science Teaching Hub.
The Just Transition Lab was also commissioned to develop research in regional approaches to Just Transition planning, which is due to be published in Q1 2025. This builds on existing work on Just Transition through multiple funded projects, including the latest UKRI-funded TRANSECTS project examining the impacts of energy transition in coastal communities.
As well as highlighting engagement activities in Aberdeen, the report acknowledges that the Commission’s work has 'benefited greatly from the efforts of talented researchers who have produced analysis and insights on just transition questions that is of great interest to the wider community of people and policymakers internationally who are seeking to develop approaches to just transition planning and delivery.'
Dr Daria Shapovalova, director of the Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law and coordinator of the Just Transition Lab is among the researchers thanked for their work.